Container for liquids and semiliquids



Aug, 18, 1953 H. a. VAUGHN 2,649,227

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMILIQUIDS Filed March 25, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 1 lana: swun- Kenna-.0?

:: I a I INVENTOR.

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4a 4 5 Arman/E7 z- 18, 1953 H. G. VAUGHN I 2,649,227

' CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS A ND SEMILIQUIDS Filed March 23, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. HAROLD 64m M uamv 47' ra/ews v Patented Aug.18,1953

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMILIQUIDS Harold Gar Vaughn, Warren, l1io,assignor to The Ohio Corrugating Company, Warren, Ohio,

a. corporation of Ohio Application March 23, 1951, Serial N 0. 217,100

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-539) This'invention relates to containers for liquidsand/or semi-liquids, more particularly to the closure therefor whereinmeans are provided for insuring sealing when the container is filledwith a suitable material, so that the container may be handled andshipped to the user devoid of danger of leakage and unauthorizedtampering with the container contents.

In containers, of which I'have knowledge, various forms of sealingdevices have been employed; for example, (I) a section of flexible wirewas threaded through embossments or lugs on the closing cap or screwthreaded plug and one or more lugs fixed to the container wall, bungring thereon or other part of the container, the ends of the wire beingsecured together by a lead slug, which arrangement (a) involved extralabor and expense and in many instances prevented storing of thecontainers in stacked relation, and (b) was employed solely to preventan unauthorized person from gaining access to the container contents andII) the closing cap or screw threaded plug was enclosed by a cup-shapedmember, capable of being deformed to detect tampering therewith, inwhich arrangement the periphery of the cupshaped member was exposed andcapable of being engaged by a tool (such as a screw driver) and priedoff and replaced in a manner that avoided detection.

' The sealing means herein disclosed includes a pair of members havinginterrelated annular sealing walls effective to prevent leakage.

This invention comprises a seal for a container to prevent leakage ofmaterial therefrom, one member of the seal consisting, of a memberrequiring. deformation to gain access to the container; accordingly,access to the container or tampering with the seal by an unauthorizedperson is readily detected.

The invention also includes a construction having a combined sealing anddetectable member and a closure device arranged to protect the memberagainst damage during handling and shipment of the container. Theinvention also includes a sealing means within an outer or exteriorclosure member and incorporated with and providing a gasket seat for areversible spout, whereby the discharge opening around the spout issealed when the latter is in an operative or pouring position.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved closure havingtherewithin means which seal the container and detect unauthorizedaccess thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved containerclosure having asealing and deformable means and a closure member thewalls of which are arranged to protect the sealing and deformable meansagainst damage due to handling and shippingof the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved containersealing means consisting of a pair of members having annular,complementary walls disposed in fixed relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing meansfor the discharge opening of a container and consistingof a memberhaving an embossed annulus and a removable deformable disk the peripheryof which is provided with an annular wall complementary to and seated inthe annulus and adapted to seal the container, the outer side wall ofthe annulus extending outwardly of said annular wall to preventtamperingwith the'latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combinedclosure and sealing means for the discharge opening'of a container,wherein one element of the sealing means is provided with a wall forminga seat for a spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealed closureand discharge means forthe discharge opening of a container, consistingof a collar mounted in said opening, a reversible spout, a supportwithin the collar for the spout when the latter is in non-pouring orpouring position, an annular closure device for securing the spout onthe support and a removable deformable disk for closing said collar whenthe spout is in non-pourin position, the marginal portion ofthe disk andcollar having interrelated annular walls to provide a leak-proof andtamperproof seal for the discharge opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combinedsealing and detachable means forthe discharge opening of a container ofsimple and economical construction and capable of being readilypositioned.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is'afragmentary View showing in section on the line l! of Fig. 2 a portionoi'a container and a closure therefor embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 2'--21of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a plan view, parts being broken away; taken onthe line 3'3'ofFig. 4a;

Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form ofconstruction;

Fig; 4a; is a view similar to Fig. 1,somewhat enlarged, but showing insection the modified form of construction, the partsbeing in theposition they occupy when the container is filled ready for shipment toa user;

Fig. lb-is a section similar to Fig. 4a, but showtherefor removed;

Fig. is a fragmentary section of parts shown in Fig. 4a,, enlarged;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4a, but showing anothermodified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 11 of Fig. 6, parts beingbroken away; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of the parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7, butshowing the spout in pouring position.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, l indicates as anentirety .a container comprising a body having a side wall I (preferablyof cylindrical shape in cross section) and a top or :head 2, which maybe permanently secured to the side wall I by welding, soldering, doubleseaming or otherwise; but in the construction shown for illustrativepurposes the side wall I is provided with a false bead la and the top 2has a peripheral flange 2' engaging a suitable gasket 2m and terminatingin lugs 3 which are bent by hand, a suitable tool or a machine inwardlyaround, into engagement with and under the false bead, with the gasket23!: between the flange and bead, to seal and removably secure the topin position.

The top 2 is formed with an emptying or discharge opening 2a, in whichthe inner end of a collar 4 is fixedly mounted (as later set forth),adjacent the flange 2 at one side of the top 2. By preference thatportion of the top wall in which the collar 4 is mounted is embosseddownwardly and outwardly, as shown at 2b, so that the axis of the collar4 extends at a right angle to the wall 21) to facilitate pouring of thecontainer contents.

This arrangement enables the closure parts, when the latter are in theposition they occupy after the container is filled ready for shipment,to be below or within the plane of the top flange 2', as shown in Fig.'1. By preference, the inner end of the collar is provided with a flange4a, which and the marginal wall of the opening 2a are interconnected infixed relation in a well known manner. The side wall of the collar 4 isembossed to provide screw threads 4b, which are engaged by the screwthreaded side wall of an annular closure device 5. The upper end of thecollar is provided with an inwardly extendin annulus 6 the intermediateportion of which,

throughout its circumference, is embossed to form a recess 6a of U-shapein cross section. The outer side 6' of the recess 6a is preferablysomewhat longer than the inner side thereof, to dispose the recess belowthe top of the collar, for a purpose later set forth. The inner side 6bof the recess 6a is extended throughout its circumference parallelly tothe embossed wall 2b, as shown at 61) and serves to reinforce the wallsof the recess 6a.

8 indicates a combined sealing and detectable member consisting of aremovable disk formed of relatively thin resilient material and capableof being deformed. The member 8 is provided with a peripheral dependingflange 8a terminating in an annular sealing element 81) of U-shape incross section complementary to the sides and bottom of and seated in therecess 6a, to provide a seal therebetween and prevent leakage from thecontainer through the collar 4.

The walls of the sealing element 812 have a pressed-in engagement withthe side and bottom seal without the use of a gasket, and as the sidewall 6' of the recess 6a extends outwardly beyond the sealing element812, the outer peripheral edge of the latter cannot be engaged by a.pointed tool or other device and pried out, except by deforming theelement 8b and/or the member 8, the effect of which is to indicateaccess to the container. As shown, the top wall 5a of the annularclosure device 5 extends inwardly beyond the annular sealing element81), its inner marginal portion being embossed inwardly, as shown at51), which embossed portion is arranged to engage the sealing member 8under pressure when the closure device 5 is threaded on the collar 4 andtightened in position. It will be observed that when the closure device5 is in tightened position, its top wall 5a, outwardly of the marginalportion 5b, is spaced from the upper end of the collar 4 and theU-shaped sealing walls 6a, 8b. In view of this arrangement, knocks,which may be incident to handling of the container, will be resisted bythe side and top walls of the device 5, so as to protect the seal fromdamage with resulting leakage of the container contents.

Referring to Figs. 4, 4a, 4b and 5 (wherein parts similar to like partsidentified in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are indicated by the same referencecharacter, respectively) 211: indicates a pouring spout, preferably ofconical shape, its outer end portion being embossed to provide screwthreads [0 for the screw threaded side walls ll of a cap Ila, wherebythe cap I la is conveniently supported on the spout 2r when the latteris in its reversed position, that is, in inoperative position (Fig. 4a).On the other hand, the cap I la provides a closure for the spout 211:when it is in pouring position between pouring operations and thereforereversal of the spout and reassembly of the parts are eliminated aftereach pouring operation. The inlet end of the spout 2.1: is provided witha flange 9 the opposite faces of which are provided with gaskets 9a, 9b.As shown in Fig. 4b, when the spout is disposed in pouring position, itsflange 9 is positioned on the wall 6b and then the closure device 5 isscrewed on the collar 4 and tightened until the embossment 5b engagesthe spout flange and secures it to the wall 6b. By preference theopening formed by the top wall of the closure member 5 is sized toengage the wall of the spout adjacent its flange 9, so that when theparts are assembled as shown in Fig. 4b, the spout flange 9 is alinedthroughout its circumference with the wall 6b and therefore the spout isaxially related to the collar 4.

Following the filling of the container I, the spout 2m, with cap Ilathereon, is reversed and projected into the container with the gasket 9bseated on the annular wall or seat 6?), next the sealing member 8 ispositioned with its sealing element 8b in pressed-in relation with innerwalls of the recess 6a to seal the discharge opening through the collar4. and finally the annular closure device 5 is threaded on the collar 4and tightened in final position with the embossment 5b engaging the disk8 under pressure.

As already set forth, the top wall 5a of the closure device is in spacedrelation to and spans the sealing elements constituting the walls of therecess Ba and U-shaped element 8b and the marginal portion 5?) isembossed inwardly into engagement with the combined sealing anddetectable member 8. The embossment 5b and side wall 50 of the device 5reinforce the top wall 511, whereby the top wall adequately resistsknocks and blows incident to handling without affecting the relationshipof the walls of the recess 5a and element 8b. The inner side wall of thesealing element 8b is of a length to spacedly dispose the member 8relative to the seat 6b to accommodate the spout flange 9 and gaskets9a, 9b, thereon, so that the pressure applied by the embossment 5b onthe disk 3 is utilized to secure the spout flange on the seat 6b.

To effect a pouring operation, the closure device 5 and disk 8. areremoved, the spout Ex is removed and positioned in pouring position onthe seat 5b, as shown in Fig. 4b, the device 5 is replaced and tightenedso that the embossment 51) engages the gasket 9h under pressure toeffect a pressure engagement between the gasket 9a and seat 6b andfinally the, cap Ha is removed.

From the foregoing description it is to be noted that provision is madeinitially to seal the'container without the employment of a gasket afterthe container is filled ready for delivery to a user; that the sealingmeans are disposed between a deformable member and a collar on thecontainer wail forming the discharge outlet for the container, andmounted within the. external closure device 5; and that the externalclosure device is shaped and arranged to resist externally appliedforces without affecting the effectiveness of the sealing means duringhandling.

It is also to be noted that one element of the sealing means to preventleakage is capable of deformation and is utilized to detect access tothe containercontents, so that tampering by an unauthorized person iseffectively indicated. As this sealing element consists of a disk andreadily positioned, the construction and ease of assembly is simplified.

Figs. 6, l and 8 illustrate a modified form of construction whereinseparate sealing devices are rovided to form an auxiliary seal, thesedevices also serving to protect the deformable disk against deformationand the sealing means against distortion, due to blows thereon oraccidents in handling and transportation of the container and thuseliminate danger of leakag therefrom.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, I2 indicates as an entirety a container comprisinga body'having side walls IZa and a top or head me, which may be securedto the side walls I2a as already set forth.

The top I2?) is formed with an emptying or discharge opening iii, inwhich the inner end of a collar Isa is fixedly mounted (as already setforth) adjacent the flange 2 at one side of the top I22). By preferencethat portion of the top wall in which the collar I3a is mounted isembossed downwardly and outwardly, as v shown at 21) so that the axis ofthe collar I3a extends at a right angle to the inclined portion I21) ofthe wall I222. I290 indicates a closure device having an annular topwall IZr', the device i2a: being similar in construction to the device 5hereinbefore referred to.

The side wall of the collar I3a is embossed to provide screw threads,which are engaged by the screw threaded side wall of an annular closuredevice I200. The upper end of the collar Eta is provided with aninwardly extending annulus, which, throughout its circumference, isembossed to provide a downwardly extending side wall I5 and an inwardlyextending annular support 1 5a disposed parallel to the embossed wallI212 to provide a seat for a flange It provided on theinlet end of thespout I6a-.

I'l indicates a combined sealing and deformable member consisting of aremovable disk formed of relatively thin resilient material and capableof being deformed, distorted or mutilated. Th marginal portion of thediskv ll, throughout its circumference, is embossed to provide annularsealing element i'ia of U-shape in cross section.

The walls of the sealing element Ila have a pressed-in engagement withthe side wall I5 and contiguous portion of the support I5a to effect atamper-proof seal between the element Ila and wall it. As the side wallI5 of the collar Ita extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of thesealing element Ila, the latter cannot be engaged by a pointed tool orother device and the member i'i pried out, except by deforming theelement Ila and/or the member H, the effect of which is to prevent itfrom being replaced and used without indicating that access to thecontainer has been made.

The separate sealing'devices consist of a removable disk I8 (preferablyformed of sheet metal) and a removable gasket ila. The diameter of theremovable .disk' l8 and outside diam eter of the gasket Ilia ar slightlyless than that of the collar I 3a. In this form of construction thegasket extends over the sealing element lid and seats on the deformabledisk ll and upper end of the collar I311, whereas the disk I8, which isengaged by the top wall I203 of the closure device I'Zx, engages thegasket Ifia to secure it in position, the latter being seated underpressure when the closure device IZac is tightened in position. Bypreference, the marginal portion of the disk it, throughout itscircumference, is embossed inwardly, to form an annular shoulder 58b,which fits within the inner periphery of the top wall 52x, whereby, inassembly, the disk I8. is disposed in concentric relation to the sidewalls of the collar 13a and closure device I230.

She wall Him is embossed inwardly as shown at I22, whereby the area ofthe wall I2a2' surrounding the embossment I22 is spaced from the diski3, so that the wall i211 will initially resist any exteriorly appliedforce to protect the disk and sealing means against damage ordistortion.

The outer side of the flange I6 on the inlet end of the spout Ifia isprovided with a gasket I9 which is engagedby the deformable disk I lwhen the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 6. As shown, the parts aredisposed in superimposed relation so that when the closure device I23:is tightened in position the parts are secured together under pressureand the spout flange I8 is secured tothe support I5a and all parts heldin fixed relation during handling and transportation.

When the contents of the container I2 are to be discharged orpoured, thdevice I230 is removed, the disk itand gasket l8a are discarded, thedisk I7 is deformed, removed and discarded, the spout Ifia is reversedso that the gasket I9 engages the support E51; and the device I20: isreplaced and tightenedto secure the spout on the support I5a, as shownin Fig. 8, the gasket l9 servingto prevent leakage or waste between thespout and adjacent parts.

To those skilled in the art to which my in? vention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing-embodimentsand applicationsof the invention will suggest themselves without departing from thespiritand scope of the invention. My disclosures and the descrip- 7 apouring spout therefor provided at (She end with a flange, a closure forsaid discharge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner endtherein and provided with screw threaded side walls, the outer end ofsaid collar being provided with an outwardly extending circumferentialwall the marginal portion of which provides a support for the flange ofsaid spout, said wall downwardly of its marginal portion being embosseddownwardly throughout its circumference to form an annular recess, aremovable disk the marginal portion of which is embossed inwardlythroughout its circumference to provide an annular wall having apressed-in engagement with the inner walls of said recess to sealinglyclose said discharge opening, and an external closure device having anannular top wall and a side wall, said sid wall being embossed toprovide screw threads thereon removably threaded on the side wall ofsaid collar and said top wall being arranged to removably engage saiddisk, said disk when engaged by said device serving to secure the flangeof said spout on said support.

2. A container having a discharge opening, a reversible pouring spouttherefor provided at one end with a circumferential flange, gasketsfixed to the opposite faces of said flange, and a closure for saiddischarge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner endtherein and provided with screw threaded side walls, the outer end ofsaid collar being provided with an inwardly extending circumferentialwall the marginal portion of which provides a support for the flange ofsaid spout when th latter is in an inoperative position or in a pouringposition, said circumferential wall between its marginal portion andsaid screw threaded side walls being embossed downwardly throughout itscircumference to form an annular recess, a removable disk arranged toremovably engage the adjacent gasket on the flange of said spout whenthe latter is in pouring or non-pouring position, the marginal portionof said disk being embossed inwardly throughout its circumference toprovide an annular wall having a pressed-in engagement with the innerwalls of said recess, and an external closure device having a side wallembossed to provide screw threads thereon removably engaging the screwthreads on the side walls of said collar and an annular top wallarranged to engage said disk under pressure when said closure device ispositioned on said collar.

3. A closure for a container having a discharge opening consisting of acollar mounted at its inner end therein and provided with a screwthreaded side wall, the outer end of said collar being provided with aninwardly extending circumferential wall embossed radially throughout itscircumference to form an annular recess of U-shape in cross section, aremovable disk for sealingly closing th opening through said collar,formed of relatively thin sheet metal capable of being deformed, themarginal portion of said disk being embossed inwardly throughout itscircumference to provide an annular wall of U-shape in cross sectionhaving a pressed-in engagement with inner walls of said recess toprovide a leakproof and tamper-proof seal for said discharge opening andan external closure device having a side wall embossed to provide screwthreads thereon removably engaging the screw threads on the side wall ofsaid collar, and an annular top the marginal portion of which isembossed inwardly for engagement with said disk inwardly of its U-shapedembossed walls and providing outwardly thereof an annular wall spacedfrom said embossed walls.

4. A closure for a container having a discharge opening, consisting of acollar mounted at its inner end in said opening and provided with ascrew threaded side wall, the upper end of said collar being extendedinwardly and embossed radially downwardly throughout its circumferenceto form within the side wall of said collar an annular recesssubstantially U-shape in cross section, a removable deformable metallicdisk for closing the opening through said collar, the marginal portionof said disk being embossed circumferentially to form an arcuate wall incross section having pressed-in engagement with the inner wall of saidrecess to provide a leak-proof and tamper-proof seal for the container,and a closure device having a screw threaded side wall removablyengaging the side wall of said collar and a top wall formed with anopening to expose the central portion of said disk.

5. A container having a discharge opening, a reversible spout providedat one end with a circumferential flange, a closure for said dischargeopening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end therein andprovided with a screw threaded side wall, the outer end of said collarbeing provided with an inwardly extending circumferential top wallembossed downwardly to provide an inner side wall and terminating in anannular support for the flange of said spout when the latter is in aninoperative position or in a pouring position, a removable deformabledisk, the marginal portion of said disk being embossed inwardlythroughout its circumference to provide a wall having a pressed-inengagement with said inner side wall and said support, an externalclosure device having an annular top wall and a side wall, said sidewall being embossed to provide screw threads thereon removably engagingthe screw threads on the first mentioned side wall of said collar andsaid disk being arranged to removably engage the flange of said spout,when the latter is in an inoperative position, to secure the flange ofsaid spout on said support, a removable gasket engaging said disk andthe top of said collar, and a separate removable disk adapted to bemounted on said gasket and be secured thereto by said annular top wallof said closure device.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the curvilinear shapedembossed wall of said disk engages said circumferential side wall belowits upper end to prevent access to said curvilinear shaped wall.

7. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the inner marginal portionof the top wall of said closure device is embossed inwardly, wherebysaid wall outwardly of its embossed portion is spaced from said separatedisk.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the outer side wall of saidannular U-shaped recess extends above said arcuate wall to preventaccess to the latter.

HAROLD GAR VAUGHN.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,070,783 Conner Feb. 16, 1937 2,606,694 Galletta Aug, 12,1952

